Pathogen "Blasphemous Communion" CD (Bonustrack)

Pro-CD versions was released by Old Cemetery Records, USA in August 2009 with remastered audio by DB at Noiseworks Studio

I’ve never heard of Pathogen before, but this is a re-release of their 2007 debut album. However there has been some controversy concerning the release. Both Dead Center Prod and Old Cemetery Rec were apparently given clearance to release it, but neither of the labels knew of each others' actions. So both labels claim to have been ripped off by the band. I’m not too familiar with the whole ordeal, but it sucks to have the underground being polluted by such shit. Nevertheless I have to put those issues aside and focus on the music.
"Blasphemous communion" is a display of chaotic old school death metal. It feels a bit like the American agenda á la Autopsy mixed with a hint of the Scandinavian way á la Nihilist. But there’s definitely something more going on here as well seeing as both classic thrash riffing that brings Slayer to mind and doom metal influences bringing Winter to mind, as well as black metal finds its way in every now and then. So it’s pretty much as old school as things can get; just a pure mishmash of genres. The crude production and (at times) sloppy instrumental handling really gives you the feeling of an old demo recording from the late eighties, done by some youngsters who just received some tapes in a trade, got inspired and wanted to play the most brutal music they could come up with.
But as vivid the nostalgia might be, it does become a bit too chaotic in my book. While there might not be anything wrong with the simple, yet effective, melodies I can seldom stand the rough solos. It’s not extremely tight, and on occasions the drumming and riffing does sound just a tad off. But that doesn’t bother me. Vocally it’s pretty much just straight-forward mid-range growling, which fit the recipe very well. This is an album for the true old school death metal freak, but it doesn’t really hit the spot perfectly for me.

Sample: